Inflatable air bed or mattress



2 Sheets-She-et 1.. S. OURLIN. INFLATABLE AIR BED 0R MATTRESS.

(No Model.)

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S. OURLIN.

INFLATABLE AIR BED OR MATTRESS. No. 511,686. Patented Dec. 26, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @EETbE.

SETH CURLIN, OF UNION CITY, TENNESSEE.

INFLATABLE AIR BED OR MATTRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 51 1,686, dated December 26, 1893.

Application filed April 21,1893.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, SETH OURLIN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Union City, 1n the county of Obion and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inflatable Air Beds or Mattresses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to an improved a r bed or mattress of that class which is provided with stays for limiting the relative displacement of the top and bottom when the bed or mattress is inflated by forcing air into the same; and the object I have in view is to provide improved stays which are so fastened to the top and bottom of the bed or mattress as to wholly obviate the liability of air-crevices or vents therein around the points of connection and which are so arranged and constructed that the manufacture of the bed or mattress is facilitated by reason of the parts being readily accessible for sewing by machine.

A further object that I have in view in this improvement is to form improved reinforce ment stays at the angles or corners of the bed or mattress, which reinforcements are so arranged as to reduce to a minimum the formation of air currents or vents at the corners.

In the manufacture of my bed or mattress I take two pieces of textile fabric of a suitable size to form the top, bottom, sides and ends of the bed, and to one of these pieces of fabric I fasten a multiplicity of stay cords situated at suitable distances from each other, each stay cord being attached in this wise: The ends of each stay cord are unraveled and divided into a suit-able number of strands, and these strands are spread out or flattened at substantially right angles to the length of the stay cord. Over this stay cord is slipped a perforated disk or piece of textile fabric, and the spread or separated strands of the stay are placed upon another disk or piece of textile fabric in such manner that the separated strands are confined between the two disks or pieces of fabric. These disks or pieces, with the spread cord-strands between Serial No. 471,811. (No model.)

them, are now placed upon or against one side of the layer of fabric that forms either the top or bottom, and fastened thereto by sewing or quilting, the stitches passing through the disks or pieces, the ends of the cord strands, and the sheet of fabric in order to securely and permanently fasten the stay cord to the sheet of fabric. After the desired nu mber of stay cords have been fastened in this manner at the proper intervals to one sheet of fabric, I then proceed to fasten the other free ends of the stay cords to the other sheet of textile fabric in precisely the same manner, that is to say, each stay cord is untwisted or unraveled to form three or more strands, which are spread or separated, placed between two fabric disks or pieces, and sewed orquilted to the second sheet of fabric; but in thus uniting the free ends of the stay cords to the second sheet of fabric I proceed to first fasten the cords at one side of the first sheet to the corresponding side edge of the second sheet of fabric; then I take the second longitudinal series of stay cords of the first sheet and fasten them to the second sheet of fabric, and so on throughout until all the numerous stay cords have been properly fastened to the second sheet of fabric. The advantage of uniting the stay cords to the first sheet of fabric and then to the second sheet of fabric is that the manufacture of the bed or mattress is greatly facilitated, because ready access can be had to the inner side or face ofthe sheets of fabric for sewing the stay cords to the sheets of fabric forming the top and bottom of the bed or mattress; and a further advantage is that the air and water proofing composition with which the sheets of fabric are coated and saturated can be readily dried in a short time because air is free to pass and circulate between the sheets of fabric. I next proceed to unite the edges of the two sheets of fabric together by sewing along the sides and ends of the sheets; and to securely close and seal each corner of the mattress or bed I provide two reinforcement stays, the latter being united at one end to the mattress or bed by double or triple rows of stitches. One reinforcement stay is now brought over the opening left at the corner of the mattress and stitched thereto on both sides of said opening, and then the other reinforcement stay is lapped over the first stay and sewed or fastened in place by stitches which pass through the stay first secured in place and the fabric forming the mattress or bed.

One of the most important results attending the employment of stay cords fastened to the top and bottom of the bed in the manner herein described is that each stay cord acts to pull for a greater surface or area on the top and bottom than can be attained by fastening the stays in any other manner known to me; and when the bed or mattress is inflated with air, these cords limit the displacement of the top and bottom walls and pull thereon throughout quite an area of surface to form a multiplicity of depressions throughout the whole mattress.

Having thus stated the objects and general nature of my improvements in air beds or mattresses, I will now proceed to a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of my collapsible air bed or mattress as it appears when inflated. Fig. 2 is a perspective View illustrating the two sheets of fabric, with all the stay cords fastened to one sheet of fabric and a small number in condition to be fastened to the other sheet of fabric. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the stay cords in the operation of being fastened to one piece of fabricr Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the parts shown by Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail plan View showing the appearance of a pair of fabric disks when united to a sheet of fabric, the stay cord being shown in section and the separated strands thereof indicated by dotted lines. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detail views of the reinforcement stays at one corner of the mattress or bed, and Fig. 8 is a view of one form of sewing machine that may be used for the purpose of uniting the pieces of fabric and stays in the manufacture of my improved air bed or mattress.

Like letters denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

A, B, designate the two sheets of textile fabric, which are of suitable length and width to form the top, bottom, sides and ends of the mattress, and O are the stay cords arranged in series along the length and width of the fabric sheets A, B, and adapted to form therewith an inflatable mattress or bed.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, the stay cord 0 has both ends thereof unraveled or untwisted for suitable distances to form the series of strands c at one end and another series of strands d at the other end, each series a, 01, consisting, preferably, of three strands of cord although any desired number of strands may be used as I.

am notlimited to any particular number. I first proceed to fasten the entire number of stay cords C to one sheet of fabric, A, at the proper distances apart, throughout the length and Width of the sheet A; and each stay cord is fastened to the sheet in the following manner: The strands c, c, c, at one end of the stay cord are all spread apart or separated equidistant from each other, substantially at right angles to the length of the cord 0, and said separated ends 0, c, c, are laid upon a flat disk or piece D of fabric, after which a centrally perforated disk E is slipped over the stay cord and placed upon the top of the strands c and the disk D so that the strands c are arranged and confined between the disks D, E. These disks D, E, with the strands c of the stay cord are now placed at the proper point on the sheet A of fabric, and fastened thereto by sewing or quilting, as represented at a in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the stitches a, being arranged in annular or spiral series and extending through the fabric disks D, E, the strands c of the stay cord, and the fabric sheet A so that the stay cord is permanently attached to the fabric sheet A in a manner to pull or strain throughout a comparatively large area of the fabric sheet.

I fasten the entire number of stay cords at the proper regular intervals to the sheet A, and then I proceed to fasten the free ends of the stay cords to the other fabric sheet B in the following manner: The first of the series of stay cords near one edge, b, of the sheetA are attached to the sheet B near the adjacent edge 0 of the latter sheet by means of the fabric disks D, E, which have the strands (Z of the stay cords confined between themselves and which are sewed at the proper intervals apart to the sheet B in the manner indicated by Fig. 5; then the second series of stay cords of the sheet A are united to the sheet B at proper distances from the first series and from each other, and so on throughout the whole series of stay cords until the two fabric sheets A, B, are connected together throughout their length and Width. By thus attaching the stay cords to first one sheetA and then uniting the free ends of said cords in the order of their arrangement to the second sheet B I am enabled to facilitate the manufacture of the mattress as the cords can be readily attached to the inner surfaces of the sheets A, B, by means of a sewing machine.

In Fig. 8 of the drawingsI have il lustrated one kind of sewing machine known as the cylinder machine with an arm circular in cross section on or around which the fabric sheets can be easily placed or manipulated to sew the stay cords to the sheets A, B; but I would have it understood that I can use any kind of machine suitable for the purpose of sewing the stay cords and fabric disks to the fabric sheets A, B. After the stay cords have IIO been thus attached to the fabric sheets, a suitable air proofing and water proofing composition or liquid is applied to the sheets on both the inner and outer surfaces thereof, and then the connected sheets are hung up on a pole or other suitable support so that the sheets are separated for the purpose of permitting warm or hot air to circulate between the sheets to dry the composition or liquid. I now proceed to unite the edges of the sheets A, B, together, by sewing, to form the sides and ends of the mattress or bed, the corners of the sheets having been previously notched or cut out as at e, f, to adapt the edges of the fabric sheets A, B, to properly come together at the corners or angles of the mattress; and these corners are securely closed and sealed by the reinforcement stays F, G, shown more particularly by Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Each of the reinforcement stays F, G, has one end attached to the top or bottom of the mattress, as at g, by sewing or quilting the same by the machine; after which one of said reinforcement stays F is brought around to fit over the opening between the meeting edges of the fabric sheets, when its edges are sewed near the edges of the sheets, the other stay G is then lapped over the sheets and the stay F and finally sewed to the sheets and stay by stitches which pass through the several layers of fabric. All the joints between the sheets of fabric and the number of stays are sealed by introducing a free liquid or oil into the mattress, and adjusting or turning the mattress so that the free oil will run or flow over the 1nner surfaces along the joints to form aprotective film on the inner surface.

The mattress is inflated by forcing air through the inflating tube G having one end suitably attached to the mattress near one corner or other suitable place (see Fig. 1) and provided with a valve or plug to close the same.

hen the mattress is inflated after theliquid or oil has been introduced therein, the pressure of the air serves to force the oil or liquid into any crevice or air vent that may be formed therein so that the oil or liquid is lodged in said air vent or crevice and dries therein to seal or close the vent, thus preventmg the mattress from collapsing by leakage of air through the vent or crevice.

I make vno claim herein to the method of rendering the mattress air or water proof as described as the same forms the subject matter of another application filed by me of even date herewith, Serial No. 471,312.

The stay cords C serve to limit the lateral displacement of the top and bottom of the mattress or bed when the latter is inflated, and each of said cords O pulls or strains the top and bottom throughout quite an area of surface by reason of its attachment by the disks or pieces D, E, whereby the inflated mat- Fess1 has the fluted appearance shown by By my invention I am enabled to materially facilitate and reduce the cost of manufacture of the mattresses, and at the same timeI produce an article which is superior to all mattresses known to me by reason of its greater durability and efficiency as the air cannot escape from the mattress and the air proofing substance will not be rubbed off or removed when the mattress is in use because the film or coating is applied to the inside surfaces as well as the outside surfaces of the inflatable mattress.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and details of construction of the devices herein shown and described as an embodiment of my invention can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes and alterations therein as fairly fall within the scope of the same.

It is evident that my invention can be advantageously used in the construction of pillows and other inflatable articles, and hence I do not strictly confine my invention to in flatable mattresses or beds.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is"- 1. An inflatable mattress, or analogous article, provided withinternal transverse stays, each stay having each end thereof held between two disks or pieces which are secured to the inside of the mattress, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

2. An inflatable mattress or analogous article, provided with the internal stay cords having the ends thereof separated or spread and confined between disks or pieces which are united to the inside of the mattress by fastenings that pass through the cordstrands, the disks and the fabric of the mattress, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In an inflatable mattress or analogous article, the combination of a stay-cord having the divided strands at the end thereof, and the disks or pieces between which the strands of the stay-cord are confined, said disks or pieces and the divided strands being situated wholly within the mattress and united to the inside thereof by stitches which pass through the disks, the strands and the mattress, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4:. An inflatable mattress or analogous article, provided with the reinforcement stays which are united at their outer ends to the mattress, near the corners thereof, the inner ends of said reinforcement stays overlapping each other and united to said mattress near the edges of the opening in the corner thereof, substantially as described.

5. The method of making inflatable mattresses or analogous articles, which consists in uniting a number of stay cords to the inner side of a fabric sheet by sewing divided strands of each stay cord between disks or the mattress, substantially as and for the pieces; then uniting the free ends of said purpose described. L0] stay cords to the inner side of a second sheet In testimony wherecfI a'ffix my signatnrein of fabric by fitting them between disks or presence of two Witnesses.

, 5' pieces and sewing through the disks, strands SETH OURLIN.

and second sheet; uniting the edges of the XVitnesses: sheets together, and fastening reinforcement HENRY E. COOPER,

stays across the openings in each corner of H. I. BERNI-IARD. 

